KING (Mistress & Master of Restraint) (22 page)

“But you found Dalton,” Ezra
says with a smile in his voice. “From what I saw earlier, you really found him,” he purrs.

“What the hell are you babbling about?”
I bark.

“I knew you wouldn’
t make it to our one a.m. match. You were too busy with your boyfriend.” Ezra arches a brow and grins down at me. His gray eyes take on a stormy deviousness. A second later he straddles my thighs and grinds his pelvis into mine. “I fucked Katya raw after I watched that,” Ezra groans, mock humping my hips.

“He wouldn’t,
” I mutter in disbelief.

“He woul
d,” he says, amused.

“He didn’t.”
My eyes bug out.

“He did.”
His shit-eating grin is extremely pleased.

“Christ!”
I pound my fists into the ground.

“My
father’s people believe Christ existed, but he wasn’t the messiah.” Ezra uses some of Cort’s natural snarky flair.

“Idiot,” I laugh
, just as he’d intended. I push at Ezra’s chest again, but he’s still not having it. He lies on top of me and gets comfortable. “You do realize you’re trying to dry-hump me in the middle of the lawn at five a.m., right?”

“Trying?” Ezra
arches that blond, sinister eyebrow of his and rocks his hips on mine. “Succeeding? Your cock is flexing underneath mine. I like that a lot.” Ezra lowers his lashes and parts his lips. I almost explode.

My God, he’s pretty- in a blond, gray-eyed sociopath
ic kind of way.

“How’d Kat like knowing you w
ere screwing her because Dalton and I turned you on?” I say to distract myself.

“It made Kit Kat hot,” Ezra
groans, rolling his hips. I whimper and he laughs. “We watched it together. We made Cort watch it, and he wasn’t allowed to join us after. I forced him to watch as I made love to our wife- four times.”

“What’d Cort
do to deserve that?” Horror laces my voice.

“Cortez is
a cock tease, and I’m sick of it. If Cort’s horny enough, he’ll break. It’s without fail. So an edict was brought down from on high.” Ezra buries his face into the crook of my neck and kisses me. “You smell good,” he groans. “I’m not the only one fed up with his bullshit. So Cort’s bosses found a middle-ground. Father and son sat the cocksucker down. No masturbation, no sex, no cocksucking, no Katya, no Marcus… until me. Cortez was very frustrated before he eventually passed out,” Ezra chuckles.

“You.
Are… despicable. That is so mean. You’re torturing him.” Except I don’t sound sickened, I sound fascinated and in awe.

“So… tutoring time,” Ezra
says, and abruptly sits up. “Do you know the difference between a top and a bottom?”

“Yes, I’m not a fucktard,” I deadpan. I sit up and face Ezra.

“I don’t mean in BDSM. You have some weird thoughts in your head. I can practically hear them. Stop me if I’m wrong… You believe that if a man doesn’t bend over it makes them less gay.” Ezra rolls his eyes at the ridiculousness, knowing he’s got me pegged.

“Yes, this type of relationship works
best when you have a guy more inclined to top and one to bottom. It’s a compromise. Take me for instance. In BDSM, I am the master. I’m all dominant male that has to be in charge. But when it comes to gay sex, I’m a bottom. Cort is a very weak switch, practically a submissive, but during sex he has to be the top. Cortez has that stupid perception that if you don’t bend over then you’re not gay. It’s total bullshit. You’re gay or bi because you like cock. It doesn’t matter where you put it or take it.”

“If you’re dominant, why would you ever bottom?” I really am confused.

“It’s the only time I’m free to let someone else take over. I’ve had two men inside me and I trust them with my life. I’d never have sex with someone I didn’t trust. This is more personal than sex between a man and woman. For me, anyway,” Ezra says with a shrug.

“I can understand that.
Why this lesson?”

“Do you plan on being monogamous with Dalton or
are you going to play around?” Ezra’s eyes drop to my workout pants and my cock starts waving his hand around screaming
play around! Play around with me!

“I won’t cheat on him,” I
proclaim, but I grimace because it’s too tempting.

“No… that’s not what I meant. Play around: mutually discuss people you can take as lovers.”
I’m not a mind reader, but I’m pretty sure Ezra’s raising his hand for the job.

“I don’t know
,” I mumble, mind spinning uncontrollably with questions. “We haven’t gotten that far yet. I know Dalton was pissed when he thought you’d screwed me.”

Ezra’s
face brightens, eyes turning more blue than gray. “That’s where I’m headed. Stay with me, here. So
if
you’re monogamous, you’d be the top, yes?”

“Yeah, that goes without saying.”

“How would you like to be gorgeous with a gorgeous boyfriend and live the rest of your life with only blowjobs and handjobs?”

“I wouldn’t,” I say in confusion.

“Exactly.” Ezra’s lips split into a sinister grin.

“I don’t get it.” I shake my head.

“I know you don’t. Pretend you’re Dalton for a second. I know exactly how he feels. I’m saving you both the pain and frustration that I’ve always lived with. Cort’s fucked me for years, and I mean that in every sense of the word… Did you notice that Dalton doesn’t think you like his body?”

“Does he have a brain malfunction? You saw the video of us last night.”

“Last night in the bondage station, I heard what Dalton said about his cock. Pretty Boy, he’s ashamed of himself,” Ezra’s voice is sympathetic. “Has he ever taken a guy?”

“No,
” I murmur while thinking it over. “Not that I know of.”

“His boyfriend won’t have sex with him.”
Ezra pouts.

“I just did!”
I shout at him. “You saw it!”

“Daniel Whittenhower II is being deliberately daft,” Ezra sings. “Maybe, just maybe, but I could be wrong
here. Dalton doesn’t want to live the rest of his life not dipping his wick. Endless blowjobs and handjobs… always being on the receiving end,” Ezra stresses. “It sounds unfulfilling if you ask me. And I would know.”

“Oh!”

“Yeah, oh,” Ezra flatly says. “If you trust Dalton
, you’ll give this to him. It wasn’t just the sex that was recorded. The screaming, punching match was recorded, too. It would put his mind at ease. Dalton might not want to do it all the time, but I can guarantee he’s curious and wants to do it. I would know,” Ezra sadly says, casting his gaze to his hands.

“Ezra,” I softly say.

“No pity,” Ezra growls. “Do you get it now? Do you see why I wanted to have these chats and help you out? I want you to have what I crave and Cort won’t give me. I’m not just talking sex, Whitt. A real partner in all things: lover, best friend, confidant, co-parent, cohort… partner.” The ache in Ezra’s voice draws tears to my eyes. I look away before he sees them. I don’t want my sympathy to hurt him further.

“Does it hurt?” I quietly whisper.

“Did Dalton look in pain to you?” Ezra laughs. “The first time is scary because you’ve imagined all this pain and gross scenarios. It’s not bad once you relax. I’ll help you cope next time we have our chat. Do you understand why your boyfriend was so pissed at me?”

“Jealousy would be my guess. Dalton
’s not quite what I expected. I’m used to Regina’s unflinching honesty and lack of emotion. Regina taught me that she’d just tell me, no guessing required.”

“Regina
’s not a girl or a guy. She’s… I’m at a loss for words with that woman. Don’t ever go by that relationship as an example. Better yet, never think anything will be the same. No two relationships ever are, because the people are different.”

“It’s a crapshoot?”

“Total crapshoot,” Ezra agrees. “I hated Marcus because I thought he’d take what Cortez wasn’t willing to give me. I was angry, unhinged by the jealousy. That is Dalton’s problem as well. He’s scared that I will take what is rightfully his. Dalton wants to be your first, and he wants you to be his first. You’ve never had a man inside you and he’s never been inside a man. The thought that I could take that away from him is killing him. Marcus gave me a gift that Cortez had to give. The pressure dissolved after that night. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.”

“
I understand now, thank you. Now it’s a waiting game for you, eh? Waiting for Cort to accept what he is?”

“Yes,” Ezra
absently mumbles, lost in thought. A few moments pass before he speaks again. “I’ll help ease the way, but let Dalton make love to you- the sooner, the better.”

“Okay,” I agree, scared half to death.

Ezra lies back onto the dewy grass and heavily sighs. I join him and we stare at the dimming starlight. The sun is starting to peak on the horizon, casting a reddish hue in warning. An immense gray-blue sky stretches far above us, the exact color of Ezra’s eyes. It’s peaceful.

“You’re the only real friend I have that isn’t a
blood relation,” I admit in the predawn calm.

“It’s good to have some
one who isn’t the most integral person in your life to talk to. They love us: fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, grandfathers and grandmothers, aunts and uncles, sons and daughters, and partners- wives and husbands. But they will never truly understand us. Sometimes you just need someone to talk to that won’t be disappointed in you or judge you for the private thoughts in the dark recesses of your mind.”

“
Jesus, that was exactly what I was just thinking. Sometimes the pressure is suffocating.”

“
I am a doctor of psychiatry,” Ezra arrogantly drawls. “I’m going to talk to Dalton, too. It’s not obvious, but he and I have a lot in common.”

“How does this d
octor thing work?”

“Um…” Ezra
looks at me sideways, like I’ve lost my ever loving mind. “You go to school, you go to medical school, you intern, and you practice.” Ezra ticks off on his fingers.

“You have actual patients?” I murmur in disbelief, trying to mask the horror in my voice.

“Yeah, ya think?” Ezra glowers at me. “I have an office at Edge where I meet my patients. What do you think I do all day, sit around with a thumb shoved up my ass? I own a bunch of businesses, not just Edge Publishing and Restraint. I employ people to take care of everything. As the owner of Whittenhower Enterprises, I’d think you’d grasp the concept. I spend seventy-five percent of my days listening to other peoples’ issues.”

“You’re really good,” I mumble, and surprisingly, it’s the truth.

“Thank you, Daniel. I do appreciate your confidence.
” There’s a sarcastic edge to his voice, but beneath that is pleasure. Ezra knows I was praising him.

“Why couldn’t you sleep?”
Ezra asks as the fiery sun breaches the horizon. It casts its long shadow across the lawn.

The words hitch in my throat.
“I didn’t want to sleep alone.”

~Chapter Eighteen
~

I rub the back of my neck and sigh.  No sleep, stress, and constant work are the recipe for a migraine and muscle aches. So is the fact that my family is AWOL. Grandfather and his posse have misted into the ether. I gave up on tracking Niel. It’s like they both knew I needed to speak with them
and disappeared. Grandfather: the Masters of the Universe game of life. Niel: Ava.

“Where the hell have you been?”
I growl at Niel as he prances into the study- well past dinner time. I’ve been in here for fourteen hours straight. You can get a lot of work done if you start at the crack of dawn.

“Why don’t you ask that douchebag who’s been tailing m
e all day,” Niel grumpily says, falling into the chair next to me. Three chairs behind this huge desk and only one person is doing the work- nice.

“I believe his name is spelled G U N
N E R, not douchebag. But your name’s gonna be spelled D E A D, not Daniel, if you don’t behave,” I threaten.

“What’d I do this time?” Niel
whines in his soft, soothing voice. It’s baffling when you talk to Niel face-to-face. His voice and body do not match. The brawny kid looks like a man older than me, and his calculating mind matches his size. Niel’s Howdy Doody coloring of reddish-blond hair, freckles, and green eyes are accentuated with his soft, subtle voice. Combined together, it’s unnerving as hell.

“Nocturnal visitations?”
I turn to him and wait.

“I gotta go,” Niel
says in a panic and starts towards the door.

“Get your ass right back here,” I demand- Master Daniel’s voice flexes a
nd smacks the kid in the ass. Niel shuffles back over to his chair with a pout on his face, with the wheels spinning escape lies in his mind.

“I drove all the kids upstate today to visit the zoo. Boy, you
should have seen the twins,” Niel says cheerily. “Little Ezra loved the lions. We had to drag Azriel and Whitney away from the snake house.”

“Sounds like fun,” I deadpan. “Nice try. Never again,” I stress.

“No more zoo? You’re friggin’ mean, Dad.” Niel manages to pull a scowl and a pout at the same time- impressive. Niel never calls me Dad unless he’s manipulating me. I ought to know, I taught him all of these nasty tricks. Too bad he’s surpassed his teacher.

“Are you having sex? I
won’t be mad, but we need to talk about it.” I try to project calm when I’m scared shitless and uncomfortable.

“No,
we’re both still virgins,” Niel awkwardly grumbles and looks at his hands. The conniving bleeds out of him and in its place is the Niel I’ve loved since he was in Queen’s belly. I think I’m the only one that knows this side of Niel.

“She’s ready,” he ruefully admits.
“I… something’s wrong with me.” I know something’s up when Niel doesn’t get embarrassed. He looks sick. His pale cheeks are usually rosy, not green.

“You can tell me anything. I mean it, Niel.” I place a comforting hand between his bowed shoulders.

“We used to do stuff all the time, but I always… ah, shit!” Niel bows his head further out of shame. He looks like he’s hugging himself. “I looked it up. Premature ejaculation,” he sheepishly says.

“Ah, Niel,” I chuckle. “First, you’re a kid. You’ll be doing that for a long time. You
’ll get too excited and blow. I
still
do that all the time. It’s the mark of a Whittenhower. Second, you’re a Whittenhower. You’ll still function afterwards, and if you can’t, touch her for a few minutes until you’re ready. It shouldn’t take longer than ten or fifteen minutes if you’re mentally aroused. Shit, I shouldn’t be giving you hints to use on a girl.”

“Yes, you should, you totally shoul
d,” Niel rapidly mutters in relief. “I can go again, but only if I’m by myself. Ava freaks me out. She’s too forceful. I’m not good at that touching shit either.”

“Ha!” I bark a laugh. “Ava
’s the daughter of two forces of nature. She’s gonna be like your mother- a relentless, take no prisoners kind of woman. You’re built to handle it thanks to our dad. But at your age, it would freak the shit out of anyone.”

“
Yeah, we can’t just makeout. Ava has to give me instructions. I hate being told what to do when I just want to…” Niel looks away and blushes bright red.

“Want to?” I prompt.

“Hug or cuddle- kiss. I’m ordered around all day, and all my energy goes into circumventing it. I want to be in charge of my life. So when we’re fooling around and Ava’s telling me what to do, I get turned off and frustrated. It annoys me. Why can’t it just be… nice?”

“I’d tell you to talk to her, but you’re not ready. I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh, God no,” Niel screeches in a panic, eyes bulging. “No!”

“I’
m never talking to a teenage girl about sex.” A sound of pure frustration rumbles up my chest. “I was thinking more along the lines of talking to your mother and having her talk to Ava- woman-to-woman. You picked a girl just like your mom. That’s why they don’t get along. But they do understand each other. And you can talk to me about anything. What’s going on with you guys is that you have two very dominant personalities fighting to be on top, when one of them just wants it to be intimate. There is a huge difference. One is for Restraint and the other is for your bed.”

“I guess
that would work, having mom talk to Ava,” Niel grudgingly mutters. “I get what you’re saying about Restraint. That’s what it feels like when we try to makeout. I’m not some submissive bitch. I also won’t get angry, I just shut down.”

“
I hear ya on that… No more sharing a bed. Sneak around like all the other kids your age. I’m not making it easy on you. It’s a rite of passage that you’ll miss out on. I
will
be checking on you. And you should know that Ezra never sleeps and he’s the one that told me you guys were sleeping together. Got it?”

“I got it
. You want to repeat that within Ava’s earshot? Don’t make it obvious or anything, but let her know to stay out of my bed.” Niel pleadingly stares at me.

“You
want
me to tell your girlfriend to leave you alone,” I incredulously murmur. “That has to be a first in recorded history.” I chuckle.

“Ava
stresses my ass out. When I go to bed, I want to go to bed. You know…
sleep
. I can’t if she’s bugging me.”

“Sure, nex
t family meal I’ll make sure Ava overhears your tongue lashing.” I shake my head in disbelief, laughing. “Where the hell is everyone today? I couldn’t even find your mother.”

“Mom’s back. She was arranging something for a kid named Torian. We took him to the zoo with us today. He’s pretty cool.”

“Oh yeah? That’s awesome. I met Torian yesterday.” I smile, secretly pleased.

“No clue where Grandfather
is, but Mom’s in her office,” Niel absently says, starting to get stir crazy. “I ordered a shitload of pizzas. If you’re hungry, they’ll be here in a few.”

“Alright, get out of here. I don’t want to be in here any longer, either. I’ll try for pizza and girlfriend wrangling if I can make it.”

“Thanks.” Niel smiles brilliantly at me and gives me a hug. 

I hold my big ox of a kid for a few minutes. Sometime you forget that Niel isn’t a grown man yet.
Having to shave twice a day doesn’t mean you can handle everything. “I love ya, kid.”

“I love you, too,” Niel
whispers as he slips out of the study.

~Chapter Nineteen~

“Hey,” I call to Regina. Her head is bent over a laptop and she’s furiously typing. Her taut mouth is twisted in concentration.

“Hi!” Regina’s
expression changes to elation, hope. She’s happy to see me and I can’t help but smile at her.

“Niel’s been being naughty…
well, it’s more like Ava’s being naughtier. I place the blame on the kid’s feet, though. But he doesn’t know how to tell Ava no. Can you talk to the girl or talk to her mother. One of you needs to tell Ava to be a girl, not a baby Domme. It’s freaking our kid out. Niel’s just like Jamie when it comes to not wanting to play in bed, but he’s a bullheaded dominant.”